ROC calling!

ROC calling!

Like this story, share it with millions of investors on M3

ROC calling!

ROC calling!

Post your opinion here

Each December, the best drivers from around the world clash headlong for top honours in the Race of Champions (ROC). This year's ROC will be the extra-special for Indian motorsport enthusiasts, since two of the country's best drivers, Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok will represent the nation at the 2012 Race of Champions in Thailand. The duo are also the only two Indians to make it to Formula One, and will be racing against greats like seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher, two-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel (both represent their nation Germany in the ROC and are the reigning champions in the Nations Cup' of the ROC), freshly crowned MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo amongst others.

The ROC was initiated 25 years ago, and today has become one of the most prestigious motorsport events in the calendar year. This is the first time that India has been invited to compete in the event which is highly popular with enthusiasts around the world as it brings together the best drivers from around the world, from various forms of the sport such as F1, WRC, MotoGP, WTCC, Le Mans, Indycar and the X-Games in identical cars. Over the years the ROC has traveled to various parts of the world, and this year's event will be held on specially laid tarmac inside Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium.

Narain and Karun will be together for the first time since 2004, when they were racing in the World Series Renault Championship. Narain, who is currently driving in F1 for the HRT F1 Team says it is an honour for him to represent the nation in the ROC, which sees only the best of the best in motorsport come together for top honours, while Karun, who drove for HRT in 2010 and Team Lotus in 2011 in F1, and is currently driving in the FIA World Endurance Championship for JRM Racing said he is really excited about Asia becoming more and more important on the global motorsport map.

The ROC is a knockout tournament where two drivers go head to head on a specially laid course, and the best driver of all is crowned the Champion of Champions'.